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Today on TUNING IN THE U.S.A., we’re on the road with Richard Stewart and Andreas Pappas. Andreas is a visitor from Greece, and he is a cousin of one of the Stewarts’ friends, Alexandra Pappas. Richard and Andreas are traveling to Nashville, Tennessee. They are becoming good friends. And they are learning more about America. Soon they find themselves near a country festival, and they decide to make a stop.

ACT I

Richard: Wait a minute! Let’s listen to that station, Andreas! Do you know that kind of music?
Andreas: Yes, I heard something like it once before.
Richard: That’s fiddle music. It’s a real American kind of music. Country music, from the mountains.
Andreas: Why do they call it “fiddle”?
Richard: Because in country music, a violin is called a fiddle. F-I-D-D-L-E. Hey, listen to that fiddle player! He’s quick.
Andreas: Richard, I hear more than just violins-I mean, fiddles. Isn’t there a guitar, too?
Richard: You have a good ear. You’re right. There is a guitar. Hey, Andreas, what town are we near right now?
Andreas: I don’t know. I’ll take a look at the map.
Announcer: You’re listening to music coming to you live from the fifty-third annual Richwood, West Virginia, Country fair.
An: Hey, listen to her?
Ri: Who? The woman is speaking on the radio? What did you hear?
An: She said nothing unusual, but her accent is unusual. Her way of speaking.
Ri: Yes. To people from my part of the country, she does have a strong accent.
An: What kind of accent do you call that?
Ri: That’s a southern accent. Hey, you do have a good ear.

Performer: Thank you. Now, we’d like to play for you a favorite song of our family. I know it’s a favorite of your family, too. Here we go! One, two, three…

[The fiddle music on the radio starts again.]

An: Richard, look at that sign. There, that one.
Ri: Which one? Oh, I see it. “Welcome to Richwood, West Virginia.”
An: Yes, we just heard it on the radio. It’s the home of the county fair.
Ri: Hey, we have to make a stop anyway. We’re low on gas. Let’s find a gas station in Richwood and hit the county fair!
An: “Hit” the county fair?
Ri: To hit the fair, Andreas, means to visit the fair, to take in the fair, to enjoy the fair. It means let’s go to the county fair!
An: What will we find at a county fair?
Ri: Oh, music, crafts, animals, and food.
An: Food! Let’s hit the fair!

Introduction to act II

This time on Tuning in the U.S.A., Richard Stewart and Andreas Pappas stop at a county fair in West Virginia. A county fair is a fun place to be. There is usually music, and there is always good food, as Richard and Andreas discover. A county fair is a place for people to meet. Farmers show their best animals. And people show and sell their crafts. At the county fair, Richard will find another subject for his book of photographs, Family Album, U.S.A.

Act II

Richard: Andreas, look at all that food! Are you hungry?
Andreas: I sure am. I can’t believe my eyes!
Woman: Then believe your stomachs, fellows. Don’t be shy. Step right up, and have a piece of homemade pie.
Ri: There are so many kinds of pie.
Wo: Twelve kinds, to be exact. You must not be from around these parts.
Ri: No, we’re not. We’re just passing through, on our way to Nashville, Tennessee.
Wo: Well, you’re lucky to find us. People come from all over for these pies. What kind would you like?
Ri: What do you recommend?
Wo: Pecan.
An: What’s pecan?
Ri: Pecan is a kind of nut. It makes great pie. What do you say, Andreas? Ok. Two pieces of pecan pie.
Wo: [She gives them their pie.] There you go. Help yourself to a napkin and a fork. And welcome to the county fair!

Ri: Thanks.
An: Thank you.
Ri: Mmm. Oh, I think I’m in heaven. This is delicious!
An: It sure is. We were lucky to find the county fair.
Ri: There are lots of county fairs, you know.
An: This isn’t the only one?
Ri: Oh, no. Every state has a number of counties. And most counties have a fair. Listen! What’s that sound?
An: [He listens.] I don’t know. Let’s find out.
Ri: I think the sound is coming from over there. It’s a blacksmith! You don’t see them much anymore.
An: A blacksmith?
Ri: You know. He makes shoes for horses, and metal tools. [He shouts to the blacksmith.] Excuse me. May I ask you something?
Blacksmith: Sure. Go ahead.

Ri: I’m Richard Stewart. I’m a photographer. I’m taking photographs for a book about America and Americans. I call it Family Album, U.S.A. May I take a picture of you working?
Bl: Of course, you can! I come to county fairs because I want people to see my work.
Ri: Tell us about your work.
Bl: What can I tell you? I’m a craftsman, a blacksmith. I like the old ways. I work with my hands.
Ri: Tell us about that tool in your hands.
Bl: This hammer? My grandfather used this hammer. It still works perfectly. Watch. [He uses the hammer.]
Ri: Beautiful!